Charlotte, Panthers Reach Agreement On Stadium

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - The city of Charlotte and the Carolina Panthers have reached agreement on improvements for the team's stadium.

The plan calls for the city to contribute about $87 million for renovations to Bank of America Stadium in exchange for a six-year deal to keep the Panthers in Charlotte.

The City Council is expected to vote on the agreement Monday.

The money is less than what the team was seeking for improvements of the stadium, which opened in 1996.

An earlier plan called for a $250 million package, half of which would be paid by the city, which also would pick up maintenance and traffic-control costs. The state and the team would have paid for the rest of the project.